Niue - South Pacific Ocean

Niue is an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean.
It is commonly known as the "Rock of Polynesia", and natives of
the island call it "the Rock".

Though self governing, Niue is in free association with New
Zealand, and thus lacks full sovereignty.
Queen Elizabeth II is Niue's head of state.
Most diplomatic relations are conducted by New Zealand on
Niue's behalf.

Niue is 2,400 kilometres northeast of New Zealand in a triangle
between Tonga, Samoa, and the Cook Islands.
The people are predominantly Polynesian.

History
Niue was settled by Polynesians from Samoa around CE 900.
Further settlers (or invaders) arrived from Tonga in the 16th
century.

Until the beginning of the 18th century, there appears to have
been no national government or national leader.
Before then, chiefs and heads of families exercised authority
over segments of the population.
Around 1700 the concept and practice of kingship appear to have
been introduced through contact with Samoa or Tonga.
From then a succession of patu-iki (kings) ruled the island, the
first of whom was Puni-mata.
Tui-toga, who reigned from 1875 to 1887, was the first Christian
king.

The first European to sight Niue was Captain James Cook
in 1774.
Cook made three attempts to land on the island but was refused
permission to do so by the Polynesian inhabitants.
He named the island "Savage Island" because, legend has it, the
natives that "greeted" him were painted in what appeared to Cook
and his crew to be blood.
However, the substance on their teeth was that of the hulahula,
a native red banana.

For the next couple of centuries the island was known as Savage
Island, until its original name Niu ē, which translates as
"behold the coconut", regained use.
Its official name is still Niuē fekai (wild Niuē).

The next notable European visitors were from the London Missionary
Society who arrived in 1846 on the "Messenger of Peace".
After many years of trying to land a European missionary on Niue,
a Niuean named Nukai Peniamina was taken away and trained as a
Pastor at the Malua Theological College in Samoa.
Peniamina returned as a missionary with the help of Toimata
Fakafitifonua.
He was finally allowed to land in Uluvehi Mutalau after a number
of attempts in other villages had failed.
The Chiefs of Mutalau village allowed Peniamina to land and assigned
over 60 warriors to protect him day and night at the fort in Fupiu.
Christianity was first taught to the Mutalau people before it was spread
to all the villages on Niue; originally other major villages opposed the
introduction of Christianity and had sought to kill Peniamina.
The people from the village of Hakupu, although the last village to
receive Christianity, came and asked for a "word of god"; hence their
village was renamed "Ha Kupu Atua" meaning "any word of god", or "Hakupu"
for short.

In 1887, King Fata-a-iki, who reigned from 1887 to 1896, offered to cede
sovereignty to the British Empire, fearing the consequences of annexation
by a less benevolent colonial power.
The offer was not accepted until 1900.

Niue was a British protectorate for a time, but the UK's direct
involvement ended in 1901 when New Zealand annexed the island.
Independence in the form of self-government was granted by the New
Zealand parliament with the 1974 constitution.
Robert Rex, ethnically part European, part native, was appointed the
country's first Premier, a position he held until his death 18 years
later.
Rex became the first Niuean to receive a knighthood, in 1984.

In January 2004, Niue was hit by Cyclone Heta, which killed two people
and caused extensive damage to the entire island, including wiping out
most of the south of the capital, Alofi.